Le Classique, As It Happened
REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier
Despite Neymar being sent off, Paris Saint Germain successfully managed to seize a point with Edinson Cavani’s late equaliser at Marseille.
Cavani, with a searing injury-time free-kick, let the Parisiens stretch their unbeaten run to ten games. PSG trailed twice in the match, which rather looked like a sealed victory for Marseille. But they grappled with the opposition just enough for one-point, with the match being the second where PSG dropped points this season.
Le Parisiens initially fell behind when Luiz Gustavo’s long-range shot found the back of the net, which left Alphonse Areola clutching thin air. And Cavani squandered an opportunity to equalise one minute later, when he missed the target from close range from a Layvin Kurzawa cross. However, it was then nullified by Neymar’s left foot finish past Steve Mandanda.
Later on in the match, a frustrated Kylian Mbappe was handed a yellow card for protesting after a Jordan Amavi handball in the box. And with just ten minutes remaining to the final whistle, Florian Thauvin volleyed home a cross from Clinton N’Jie. That looked set to be the winner, but then the greatest drama approached.
Neymar was sent off as a result of two bookings, which looked like the end for PSG. The Brazilian seemed to say something to the official before being shown the second yellow just moments after crashing his head against Lucas Ocampos.
The match already seemed like a destined victory for the home side when PSG went short on options late in the game. Nevertheless, Cavani pulled off a dramatic free-kick at the 11th hour, to let his teammate, who was sent off earlier, continue his unbeaten life at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Uruguayan and the Brazilian always had a dispute when it came to claiming free kicks, but it seems like the 30-year-old’s competence in set-pieces has proved its worth. He stepped up to take the set piece, which would’ve been Neymar’s territory if it wasn’t for the booking, to salvage a point for the French capital.
Written by Hritwik NE 
Passionate writer, coated in Blue.